VOLUNTEER EDINBURGH is looking for new board members.
Volunteer Edinburgh’s aim is to inspire more people to become active citizens and volunteer. We’re looking for people of all backgrounds, ages and experience to join our board of trustees and to help us achieve our goals.
You can find out more about applying to join the board, and what’s involved in the role, in the nomination pack on the trustees page of our website here.
Now is the time to apply – deadline for nominations is 16.00 on Friday 20 May.
If you have any questions, or if you would like information in a different format, please get in touch with us at finance@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed a ‘Brave Ukraine’ event hosted by the Ukrainian Embassy in London last night
He told guests: Thank you very much, what an honour to speak after my friend Volodymyr Zelenskyy, truly one of the most incredible leaders of modern times.
What a blessing for Ukraine and for the world, and what a disaster for Putin that he should now be leading Ukraine in Kyiv.
It is almost exactly 80 years ago, 1942, that the BBC first broadcast Shostakovich’s Leningrad symphony to the world. This was played by a half-starving orchestra during the siege of Leningrad, while it was being pounded by the Nazis, and that symphony became a symbol of resistance to fascism, and the power of the human spirit.
I do not know whether Vladimir Putin is a Shostakovich buff or not, but is it not a tragic irony that a Russian leader, himself from Leningrad, should now be laying waste to cities in Ukraine as Volodymyr has just described.
Starving civilians, bombarding their homes, driving them underground, forcing families to huddle together in cellars, or as we have seen, in that giant steel plant in Mariupol.
But no matter what Putin tries to do to Ukraine’s people, what the exhibition that we are opening tonight shows, is that he will never break their spirit.
He will never overcome those indomitable armed forces, who have already repelled the Russian army from the gates of Kyiv, and therefore achieved the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century.
That is why I’m more certain than ever that Ukraine will win. Ukraine will be free, and a sovereign Ukraine will rise again.
And it’s because this struggle is so clear cut, and without any moral ambiguity that I can see, a struggle between freedom and oppression, between democracy and tyranny, independence and imperialism, light and darkness, good and evil, that is why I think it speaks so deeply to us.
That is why here in the UK, you can see blue and yellow flags flying everywhere, from town halls and church spires and front gardens and children’s playgrounds, and we in the United Kingdom, of every political party, all backgrounds, we are proud to be friends of Ukraine.
When Russian troops were massing on the frontiers of Ukraine in January, we were among the first European countries to send anti-tank missiles. I want you to know, and I told Volodymyr this earlier on today in our conversation, we will continue to intensify this effort for as long as Ukraine wants and needs our help.
And it is precisely because the Ukrainian people refused to surrender and precisely because they resisted so heroically that their suffering today is so severe.
Putin has driven at least one Ukrainian in every four from their homes, including two thirds of all Ukrainian children.
And just as we must help Ukraine to defend herself against aggression, so we must also do everything we can ease the terrible burden of suffering imposed on an innocent people.
Let me conclude by saying: take part in today’s charity auction. Whether you are bidding for Volodymyr’s fleece – a snip at £50,000, I want much higher bids than that, or you are bidding for a tour of Kyiv with Mayor Klitschko, I have had a tour of Kyiv with Mayor Klitschko, it’s a beautiful city. Well worth it, dig deep.
Support Ukraine tonight my friends so that that great ancient European capital Kyiv can never be threatened again, and that Ukraine can be whole and free once more.
Two British soldiers killed on 26 September 1915 (during the Battle of Loos) were laid to rest with full military honours yesterday, a century after their deaths.
The service was organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (MOD JCCC), also known as the “MOD War Detectives”, and was held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Loos British Cemetery, Loos-en-Gohelle in northern France.
Members of the Royal Regiment of Scotland carry Pte Johnston to his final resting place. Crown copyright.
One set of remains was recovered in January 2018 during a WW1 ordnance search near Lens. Also found was a pocket watch and a spoon with the number 13228 stamped on the back.
MOD JCCC and the CWGC confirmed it to be the regimental number of Private (Pte) William Johnston (aged 39) of 7th battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, having cross referenced it with war records that also confirmed he was the only casualty with this number who did not have a known burial place.
Soldiers of the Yorkshire Regiment carry an unknown East Yorkshire Regiment soldier to his final resting place. Crown copyright.
The MOD JCCC traced a great-great-niece who provided a DNA sample to compare with DNA taken from the remains. The results were conclusive. Pte Johnston’s service records no longer exist, so not much personal information is known about him.
Sharon Williamson, of Portadown, County Armagh, is Pte Johnston’s great-great-niece and DNA donor, she said: “I was sent an email by a relative in America who had been contacted by the MOD War Detectives to say that they had found remains from the Great War.
“They asked for my DNA, that was the start of our journey. Later, once it was confirmed that William was our relative, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to be here and pay our respects to a family member that, though we didn’t know, we did not want him to be alone on his final journey.”
Phil Aldridge, great great nephew of Pte Johnston lays a wreath. Crown copyright.
The remains of another British soldier were found separately in the same area. Although it was not possible to identify him by name, MOD JCCC did confirm he served with the East Yorkshire Regiment due to two East Yorkshire shoulder titles being found with the remains.
Louise Dorr, MOD JCCC Caseworker said: “I’m both pleased and saddened that although I have been able to identify one of these soldiers by name, there are just too many casualties missing from the 8th East Yorkshire Regiment for us to be able to name their casualty.
“I’m delighted to see them both laid to rest in front of their military family and, in Pte Johnston’s case, his biological family. May they both rest in peace.”
The service was conducted by the Reverend Dave Jeal, Chaplain to 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland. Two bearer parties were provided by the Yorkshire Regiment and the Royal Regiment of Scotland respectively.
Rev Dave Jeal leads the service. Crown copyright.
Rev Dave Jeal, who’s own grandfather Frederick Nichols served with the East Yorkshire Regiment during the Second World War, said: “To be involved today is a real privilege for me.
“When these two men died they did so in the service of our country: they gave everything. That’s so important to remember and to honour, because by bearing their remains to their final rest, our young soldiers of today can see they walk in the footsteps of those giants who went before them.”
The graves will now be marked by headstones provided by the CWGC, who will care for their final resting place in perpetuity.
CWGC Horticulture Manager, Steve Arnold said: “As the Recovery Officer I was honoured to be able to retrieve these two British soldiers from where they had fallen over 100 years ago, together with the personal items that have enabled Private Johnston to be named.
“It is deeply moving to see them laid to rest today alongside their comrades; each time we engrave a new headstone we renew our commitment to caring for all the graves in our care in perpetuity.”
A man responsible for a series of serious sexual offences against women and children in Edinburgh has been convicted.
Yesterday at Edinburgh High Court (5th May 2022), John O’Flaherty was found guilty of serious sexual offences, including rape committed against 4 females between the 1980s and 1990s.
The 65-year-old became the subject of a public protection investigation after the victims, who are now all adults, came forward to report the abuse they were subjected to.
The sexual abuse survivors were aged between 7 and 32, with the majority of attacks taking place within the North of the city. However, other addresses and locations within the South West were also identified during the inquiry.
Detectives from Edinburgh’s Public Protection Unit spent more than two years gathering evidence against O’Flaherty before he was initially arrested in June 2020, with further charges added over the following months.
He will now be sentenced at a later date.
Detective Inspector Jonny Wright said: “For more than two decades John O’Flaherty targeted young woman who lived within, or frequented, the North of Edinburgh and subjected them to horrific levels of sexual abuse.
“The impact of his offending had a significant and long-lasting effect on communities within the North and had it not been for the outstanding courage of these women in coming forward, then O’Flaherty would not have been brought to justice.
“I want to thank each survivor of O’Flaherty’s abuse for their strength during our investigation and I also wish to acknowledge the outstanding work of the detectives and criminal justice partners who worked so diligently to ensure this case reached a successful conclusion.
“Today’s conviction should serve as a reassuring reminder to the public that time is no barrier to our investigation and whenever reports of sexual assault are made, we will utilise all resources at our disposal to investigate thoroughly and provide those affected with all the relevant support they require.”
LifeCare Edinburgh relaunches Stockbridge café with new menu, revamped interiors and guest appearance from celebrated local authorVal McDermid
CafeLife, the popular community cafe on Cheyne Street, is set to officially reopen on Monday 9th May with a brand-new menu and revamped interiors following its forced closure through the pandemic.
Run by renowned local charity LifeCare Edinburgh, all proceeds from the cafe go towards supporting the delivery of the organisation’s vital care services for older people living across Edinburgh.
The charity, which turned 80 last year, helps over 1,000 local older people a year. Essential services such as registered outreach care and day centres, help at home, meals on wheels and support for carers enable local older people to remain living full and independent lives.
The pandemic forced the café to close its doors to their loyal sit-in customers in March 2020. The closure has been a real loss to the area as CafeLife is the only full-accessible community café around, offering good value food and drink appealing to all generations and with lots of space for buggies and wheelchairs.
Opened nearly ten years ago, the team took the opportunity to upgrade the café through the covid-closure. The charity secured emergency funding to revamp CafeLife’s interiors and the kitchen team have spent time creating a new and improved menu to appeal to all tastes and dietary needs.
The charity is today announcing that they will be joined by celebrated and best-selling Scottish crime writer Val McDermid for the official ribbon cutting event on Wednesday 11th May.
Val will sign copies of any of her books brought along on the day.
Jemima Hankins, Community Hub Co-ordinator at LifeCare said “We are absolutely delighted that we are reopening CafeLife at long last. There’s nothing else like us in the area and we know how much our regular customers have missed us.
“We’ve a huge bright space that appeals to all ages and stages; people pop in on their own or come with friends to enjoy good honest food and drink – with all proceeds going towards our vital care services for local people. We really are a cafe with a difference!
“Our loyal customers love to pop in to meet or make new friends, enjoy good value food and we’re relaunching with an exciting new menu designed by Chef Tony keeping our cafe staples such as soups, bacon rolls and paninis but we’ve added pancakes, smoothies and milkshakes. The blueberry pancakes are a must!
“We are thrilled to be marking our reopening with a guest appearance from Val McDermid on Wednesday 11th May and we will be running lots of promotions across the week – check our socials for full details or pop-in for more info.”
LifeCare Edinburgh is a registered charity and with no service fully-funded the organisation relies on the generosity of its funders.
Recent funding from the Scottish Government’s Adapt and Thrive fund covered the cost of the café upgrades and an award from The National Lottery Community Fund supports the new Community Hub Coordinator position created to help safely bring people back to the space after the pandemic.
